Grateful Patient Philanthropy

The Grateful Patient Philanthropy mini-track equips healthcare fundraisers and leaders with the knowledge and skills to build and strengthen ethical, best-practice Grateful Patient programs in partnership with clinicians, leadership, and patients. Through interactive model-building and real-world examples from healthcare systems, participants will develop a practical roadmap to implement and enhance programs at their own institutions.

View the 2026 blueprint below to see how the track is structured, including the topics covered each day.

This mini-track is designed for healthcare philanthropy professionals and mid- to senior-level leaders who are building, refining, or scaling a Grateful Patient Philanthropy program. Completion of the Fundamentals track or equivalent foundational experience in healthcare philanthropy is recommended.

• Foundational Elements of at Grateful Patient Philanthropy Program: Regardless of institution type, geographical location or size, a successful Grateful Patient Philanthropy program needs to be grounded in foundational elements including: mission, leadership, strategic alignment, culture and core values. We will define and discuss the foundational elements and attendees will “score” their own program in order to begin to design or enhance their model of Grateful Patient Philanthropy that will work best for them.  
  
• Grateful Patient Philanthropy – what, why and how:  A deep dive into what Grateful Patient Philanthropy is (and is not), why healthcare organizations should invest in Grateful Patient Philanthropy and key elements how to build or enhance your program. 
  
• Legality and Ethics of Grateful Patient Philanthropy: A must for every philanthropy team to build trusting relationships and a successful, sustainable program. 
  
• Successful Partnership with Healthcare Leadership: In order to be successful, Grateful Patient Philanthropy cannot be a solo endeavor led only by the development professional. Ensuring that your Healthcare Leadership has buy-in and ownership is essential, along with championing Grateful Patient Philanthropy internally and externally. We will highlight best practices related to effective partnerships with leadership, data/reporting to share on a regular basis and the ideal role for leadership in the Grateful Patient Philanthropy process. 
  
• Effective Physician/Healthcare Provider Engagement: Our healthcare providers play a critical role in the development cycle from identification through stewardship. Setting expectations about the role of healthcare provider and the role of the development officer is critical. A healthcare provider will join as guest faculty to participate in this discussion and answer questions from attendees. 
  
• Data and Analytics to Propel Grateful Patient Philanthropy: With a myriad of choices of data to use often coupled with limited budgets and/or expertise, deciding what data and analytics to focus on can be overwhelming. We will discuss the data and analytics that best support the Grateful Patient Philanthropy cycle, metrics to use for gift officers and overall team performance.  
  
• Compelling Grateful Philanthropy Proposals: We will discuss how a Grateful Patient Philanthropy proposal can inspire a patient or patient family to commit to a charitable major or principal gift to your organization. This will include areas such as story telling, incorporating the patient experience, leveraging healthcare providers and demonstrating impact.
  
• Engaging Stewardship of Grateful Patient Donors: Our healthcare settings provide both a unique environment and content to produce and deliver exceptional stewardship to Grateful Patient Philanthropy Donors. Options abound and we will focus on those that can be tailored to engage your donors and pave the way for the next proposal. 
  
• Grateful Patient Philanthropy In-Action: The track will culminate with case studies and role plays where participants apply course content to real-life scenarios. You’ll leave with key takeaways to apply at your institution.  
  
• Roundtable with the Grateful Patient Philanthropy Faculty: Time reserved on the last day to ask questions, brainstorm and obtain meaningful, actionable feedback from the faculty.